So, I have been eyeing returning to android for a while now for my phone. While WWDC has shown alot of improvements and advancements for ios, I just think I want more options and more flexibility in my smartphone (I still love my ipad and I even maybe plan on buying a macbook one day, so Its not that I dont like apple stuff.)

Right now these two phones seem to be the best options outside of the M8, but the lackluster camera puts me off of it I think. its not that im a big photographer, but i would still like a good or great camera if I need it. and I one day want to get into photography more.

as far as i can tell the biggest problems with these two phones is that on the G3 the display, while it looks great, suffers from contrast and brightness issues. also, I hear that the extra display resolution causes slowdown and more battery drain than comparative phones. Is this true?

With the GS5, the biggest issues I hear is its lack of onboard storage space and that touchwiz still isnt the most lag free UI out there, though its been improved. Also, im kinda iffy on samsung because they seem to be wanting to diverge from google and I really dont want any part of that possible future. Is this true? do you think Samsung is pulling away from google and is it a issue?

so, what say you guys?

08-03-2014, 12:19 AM

B. Diddy

Re: LG G3 or Galaxy S5?

I don't have a G3 or an S5, but my wife just got an M8. It's a great phone, and honestly, if you don't consider yourself a big photographer, the camera is going to be just fine for you. So if the M8 is otherwise the most attractive phone for you, go for it.

08-03-2014, 12:24 AM

RavenSword

Re: LG G3 or Galaxy S5?

Quote:

Originally Posted by B. Diddy

I don't have a G3 or an S5, but my wife just got an M8. It's a great phone, and honestly, if you don't consider yourself a big photographer, the camera is going to be just fine for you. So if the M8 is otherwise the most attractive phone for you, go for it.

Well, my only complaint with the M8 was the camera , so maybe it is best for me. Honestly, I just don't take many pictures.

08-03-2014, 03:44 AM

LightaDroid

Re: LG G3 or Galaxy S5?

I'm liking a lot of what I see with the lg3. But that's me

Posted from Google Nexus 5

08-03-2014, 07:59 AM

ffejjj

Re: LG G3 or Galaxy S5?

G3

Posted via Android Central App

08-03-2014, 09:38 AM

RavenSword

Re: LG G3 or Galaxy S5?

I keep hearing the screen causes more problems than it's worth though with the g3. I read a anandtech review that basically stated the phone throttles a lot due to pushing so many pixels, which could be a issue for games.

Other than that the G3 seemed almost perfect.

08-03-2014, 10:18 AM

bembol

Re: LG G3 or Galaxy S5?

I have both and honestly can't say which to recommend.

I'll flip a coin...

Pro S5

08-03-2014, 10:24 AM

dancing-bass

Re: LG G3 or Galaxy S5?

If I had to get a phone NOW, I'd be in a similar predicament to you. Lots of great devices, but really only 3 Id consider. And frankly without some "hands on" time, my choice is just based on reading reviews. My current device is an S4

HTC One M8 - concerns about slippery metal finish and iffy camera. A possibility, yes. I'm not HUGE into photography, but most of my shooting is in ok to great light, where the M8 seems to fall apart. However Sense would be really nice. Tied for 3rd place.

Galaxy Note3 - Other then the screen size and the S-pen, not an upgrade, except that they already started to tone down TouchWiz. Tied for 3rd

Galaxy S5 - a Bigger upgrade over the S4 I have and the Note3, but still pretty much more of the same. If TouchWiz was more "modular" (allowing the base to be pre-installed,but other features installed or uninstalled - not just disabled, or root and uninstall - would be up to the consumer) would be nice. Probably would be 2nd place.

LG G3 - probably first place, even if - heck maybe even more so - the screen was a 1080p. I'd be concerned about the screen auto sharpening and stuff, and hope they fix it and the throttling issue in a patch. The camera sounds pretty good though and overall I'm plenty happy with the stock camera app on my S4 (I just wish it could handle macro shots better).

So yeah, without some hands on time, I'd probably lean slightly towards the G3 over the S5 - but without some hands-on time, it would be difficult to tell which one I'd take home. Again, hypothetically speaking if I needed a phone NOW. If I Could afford to wait I'd hold out a couple months to see what other devices come up in Fall.

08-03-2014, 10:44 AM

ffejjj

Re: LG G3 or Galaxy S5?

Quote:

Originally Posted by bembol

I have both and honestly can't say which to recommend.

I'll flip a coin...

Pro S5

Says a lot, I know you really like the S5

Posted via Android Central App

08-03-2014, 11:12 AM

cgardnervt

Re: LG G3 or Galaxy S5?

Between them both I'd take the LG G3. I hate phones with bloatware though to be honest. :P I'd personally pass on em both in the end though.

08-03-2014, 01:28 PM

joe watson1

Re: LG G3 or Galaxy S5?

I want the LG but the screen issues (overheating and shutdowns) and the fact that many apps still don't support the new screen has me leaning towards the S5.

08-03-2014, 03:45 PM

bembol

Re: LG G3 or Galaxy S5?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ffejjj

Says a lot, I know you really like the S5

Posted via Android Central App

I even surprised myself.

This whole 2K thing got out of hand. LOL

If I did recommend the G3 it wouldn't be THE reason.

Pro S5

08-03-2014, 05:58 PM

Jean Rodriguez1

Re: LG G3 or Galaxy S5?

I'm thinking the same coming from a person that had the LG G2 and the s4 I like both but if I had to pick one would he the G3 honestly I hate touch wiz every time I bought a galaxy phone I just rooted it to cynamod

Posted via Android Central App

08-03-2014, 08:35 PM

RavenSword

Re: LG G3 or Galaxy S5?

Is the throttling/sharpening something they could even fix with a patch? I may just wait to see if they do fix that.

08-03-2014, 10:08 PM

RavenSword

Re: LG G3 or Galaxy S5?

So I kinda put off of the G3 now . I used it for a bit in a best but , and while I like the feel of the phone, the hitching was noticeable to me in the home screen and apps selector. And I hear that when taxed it is noticeably slower.

So now I'm actually looking at the M8, which looks like it ticks all the boxes I look for in a phone (screen,battery,UI,and update support) I don't really take photos, so I don't think the camera will be a deal breaker for me personally. But at the same time, it would be nice to have at least a good camera in the rate instances I need it. But it doesn't trump my other needs of a phone. I use it far more as a personal computer than a camera.

the S5 I like that it has a replaceable battery and that it has a larger accessory ecosyestem. And the better camera is cool . But I don't like that it only has 16gb on board storage , I don't like it's massive barrage of features , and I don't like the UI as much as sense. but samsungs also in better financial health than HTC, so that's a plus maybe.

So honestly, seems like is like the m8 more, but places I trust are suggesting the S5. So I don't know . Heck, I don't even know if I wanna ditch iOS or not. I'm still deciding on that.

08-03-2014, 11:34 PM

B. Diddy

Re: LG G3 or Galaxy S5?

What places that you trust are those? You mean tech sites, or stores? I would bet that many stores purposely push Samsung because they have incentives. It's an excellent phone, don't get me wrong--it's just that store reps will usually not give you a totally unbiased view.

08-04-2014, 05:53 AM

nessinhaw

Re: LG G3 or Galaxy S5?

well...i think the 2k screen is just waaay too much for a smartphone and we wont really feel the difference from a full hd screen!

also 3GB of ram is not necessary for the time being, i mean, we talking about smartphones and not PCs lol

the G3 is the result of exageration in a phone imo!

08-04-2014, 01:22 PM

RavenSword

Re: LG G3 or Galaxy S5?

Quote:

Originally Posted by B. Diddy

What places that you trust are those? You mean tech sites, or stores? I would bet that many stores purposely push Samsung because they have incentives. It's an excellent phone, don't get me wrong--it's just that store reps will usually not give you a totally unbiased view.

Nah, I meant tech sites. Like wirecutter.com

I might give the G3 another shot. I'll play with it a bit more and see if I really notice that lag. I only used it for like 5 minutes the other day. Some say its noticeable, some say it's not. And it's hard to tell with web browsing on demo units because there wifi could suck. And maybe there's a bunch of background stuff going that causes slowdown.

08-04-2014, 05:15 PM

rahxephon

Re: LG G3 or Galaxy S5?

Quote:

Originally Posted by RavenSword

Is the throttling/sharpening something they could even fix with a patch? I may just wait to see if they do fix that.

The sharpening would definitely need some sort of patch from LG. I'm assuming it's down to the actual display driver software that's applying the effects many are seeing.

My only issue with the display is the auto screen dimming. It can be a bit annoying when in the middle of an app.

I'd highly recommend that you give the g3 an extended trial at a store to see if any of these above issues bother you.

08-04-2014, 10:31 PM

Netfuel

Re: LG G3 or Galaxy S5?

Since you're this close, why not wait for the release of the new iPhone 6, and the Note 4? I'm kind of in the same boat as you, but I want to wait and see how the new phone(s) from Apple look and feel.

I just got the G3 for my wife a few days ago, and I'll be honest, the thing is just beautiful. It's still on my list as possibilities too, once I'm ready for my new driver. I haven't noticed any lag to speak of with hers, even when it was downloading all her old apps onto the new G3, it was still super snappy and responsive. And the bezels....oh my God, the bezels are just fantastic. Really goes a long way in helping the phone not feel as big as it is, with that 5.5" screen.

08-04-2014, 10:35 PM

dctokyo

Re: LG G3 or Galaxy S5?

G3 over the G5

08-04-2014, 10:50 PM

RavenSword

Re: LG G3 or Galaxy S5?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Netfuel

Since you're this close, why not wait for the release of the new iPhone 6, and the Note 4? I'm kind of in the same boat as you, but I want to wait and see how the new phone(s) from Apple look and feel.

I just got the G3 for my wife a few days ago, and I'll be honest, the thing is just beautiful. It's still on my list as possibilities too, once I'm ready for my new driver. I haven't noticed any lag to speak of with hers, even when it was downloading all her old apps onto the new G3, it was still super snappy and responsive. And the bezels....oh my God, the bezels are just fantastic. Really goes a long way in helping the phone not feel as big as it is, with that 5.5" screen.

Yeah, maybe I'll wait and see what the new iphone looks like. But one of the appeals of android was that it's more open, meaning I can be more service agnostic or have more choices with it over iOS. But iOS has opened up a lot more with iOS 8

08-04-2014, 11:07 PM

Netfuel

Re: LG G3 or Galaxy S5?

Quote:

Originally Posted by RavenSword

Yeah, maybe I'll wait and see what the new iphone looks like. But one of the appeals of android was that it's more open, meaning I can be more service agnostic or have more choices with it over iOS. But iOS has opened up a lot more with iOS 8

iOS 8 will definitely have some work to do for me to leave Android as well.

08-05-2014, 12:39 AM

RavenSword

Re: LG G3 or Galaxy S5?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Netfuel

iOS 8 will definitely have some work to do for me to leave Android as well.

The thing with android wasn't that I want to root or anything, I just don't have a desire to do that. It had more to do with the fact that since I use my phone mainly as a personal computing device I'd like something that I can easily move fiaea and information around. Also switch out some things I might not like such as keyboards and launchers. However I still want the device the be stable and run smooth, which can be a issue with android sometimes compared to iOS.

And one thing that frustrates me is that there doaent seem to be a android handset that perfect to me. With the S5 I get waterprrofing, a removable battery_ and a large ecosyestem of accessories, but it only get 16gbs of onboard storage, touchwiz is bloated still, and its made of cheap plastic. With the LGG3, I get a removable battery, a impressivley large screen in a not too large body, and 32gBs of storage. However, apparently it lags in areas due to its high res screen, the LG software still isn't he best_ and the contrast seems a bit washed out. With the HTC ONE M8 I get probably the best built android handset from a design standpoint, 32gbs of storage, probably the best non stock UI on android, and great performance. However, it hads a lackluster camera,, may be too big for comfort, is slippery to hold, and I have No clue if HTC is even going to be in business two years from now due to their dire financials.

Really, its frustrating.

08-05-2014, 09:44 AM

codyoehl

Re: LG G3 or Galaxy S5?

I love my Galaxy S5, it is a great phone
I suggest maybe installing a different launcher to replace TouchWiz if you don't like it

I tried the M8, and I didn't really like it too much, but the LG G3 did seem nice.

With the things you brought up on the S5, the 16 gb of storage isn't too bad considering you can add up to 128 GB of SD card storage
And about Samsung moving away from android and heading to Tizen (it's own operating system), if it ever does happen, it will happen in a while and it wouldn't affect the S5.